I didn't have my Beta look this over, so please tell me what you think of it, okay? Thanks a lot!

I entered the huge building for the first time at the age of young five. I was stunned at the time; my parents had just died and now I was walking hand-in-hand with a strange man whose hair was gelled back in a way that I believed only worked in the movies. He led into an even stranger, new world of wealth and loneliness and independence, and I had to take the steps myself, because he wasn't going to carry me. The world around me seemed to fade into nothingness as I was absorbed in thoughts and childish fears.

The architecture was amazing, and the place was extremely ritzy. There was a fountain in the front made from white marble. Clear water sprouted out from a black marble swan's beak into a umbrella around the lifeless animal until it crashed into the pool at the bottom.

Inside, the flawless white walls were carved with detail that was just as flawless, if even that. The floors were a tan marble, and my sneakers made a comforting, consistent noise as I walked. Even my smallest, feeblest breath echoed in the large space and I felt small. I looked up at the man who was leading me, and I noticed how straight his posture was. I noticed that he looked straight ahead, as if he had all the confidence in the world. Compared to him, I was an ant. Compared to this house, I was a molecule. I was surprised that I could feel so isolated in a monument so huge.

Watari, the man who was holding my frightened little hand, led me around the orphanage with gentle patience. He spoke to me calmly and in a tone that made me feel more adult than child, and so I immediately respected him. I soaked up everything he said, afraid that if I looked uninterested he would walk away and leave me alone. I suddenly felt very cold and tightened my sticky fingers around his hand. If he noticed, the only clue was a slight smile on his face.

We followed a long red carpet- it was just a single shade brighter than my hair- to two, huge white doors. On the front of the doors were carved angels playing harps. They looked up to the ceiling, their chubby cheeks as round as a baby's and their eyes just as large. Their dimpled fingers eternally plucked at the same string and their legs rested behind them. They looked completely peaceful and at rest and perfect, and I felt like I was looking at them and not at a carving. I was surprised at how much more relaxed I felt as I looked at the cherubs; my knees stop wobbling and my breath was surer as we stopped in front of them.

Watari let go of my hand and grasped large bronze door handle and pulled apart the cherubs so that they were out of my sight. We were now in a carpeted common room that was filled with children of all ages. My heart picked up speed and I clung to the tails of the old man's tux. I knew that I looked like a scared little baby to the rest, but I didn't have the courage to let go of Watari, or even stand up straight. I concentrated fully on holding my chin up proudly, looking straight into the eyes of whoever challenged me. Besides, I doubted any of the others looked any different their first day. Right?

But nobody challenged me. No one seemed to notice I had even entered the room, and that made me feel less confident.

"Don't be afraid, Matt," the old man said, using my new alias. "They're all very friendly."

Subconsciously, I pulled my goggles down from my head and onto my eyes, blurring my vision in orange. My steps were hard as I reluctantly let go of his jacket and walked independently from Watari, as I knew I had to learn to do. I walked over to the television where several children were crowded around, their young minds completely absorbed in some cartoon I had no interest in. There was no hero in the show; there was no action. I had no reason to watch it, and neither did they. But they watched it anyway, completely lost in the fantasy of a world of talking sponges when they could be dreaming of a life of pirates or sorcerers.

My eyes tore away from the brightly lit television and I looked around, searching for someone who was just as bored by the stupid show as I was.

There were three people not watching television. One was a boy who was sitting in the corner, snapping pieces into a puzzle quietly. He didn't acknowledge me watching him, but I got the feeling that he knew. Since he was the first person I saw, I walked over to him.

"Hi, I'm Matt," I introduced quietly. I had to get to know someone, didn't I? I knew I could easily learn the ropes of the orphanage myself, but it would be so much easier and- dare I admit it?- happier, less lonely with someone by my side.

The boy looked up at me, his white hair falling out of his dark eyes as his head moved. "I'm Near."

"Don't talk to someone like him!" another person yelled.

I jumped and turned to the voice. A feminine boy was sitting at a dark wooden desk facing the far wall. He was sitting with the back of the seat between his legs, and he was watching me with careful interest. The boy bit into a bar of chocolate and his blue eyes glinted with a crazy glow that intrigued me.

"Who're you?" I asked, my voice steady and brave as I spoke to the boy. I was quite happy I could accomplish at least that.

"Mello," he answered as he took another bite. He swallowed it and went on, "and I own this orphanage. So you're better off hanging with me than with him." Mello wrinkled his nose as he looked disdainfully at Near.

"Don't listen to him," Near told me. He had long since gone back to his puzzle and was now almost done, clicking the last piece in to perfect its white surface. The blonde growled as he finished, only to be silenced by all of the pieces falling to the floor, clearing the board so Near could begin again.

"Y'always have to go do those dumb puzzles!" Mello growled, gripping the back of the chair so hard his knuckles were turning even whiter than his already pale skin.

Near didn't reply to that, only began snapping the pieces into their place once more.

I was amazed by how casual the two were as they slung insults back and forth.

In a moment of angry passion, Mello stood and knocked his chair to the ground violently. "Shut up!"

"I didn't say anything," Near defended quietly as he finished half of the puzzle.

"You might as well have!" the taller boy argued as he made his way over to us. "I know you were thinking it! Something insulting, too!"

"I'm not."

"You are; don't deny it!"

"Stop accusing me. You don't know anything.."

They went at it for a while longer before the third person, a young girl, sighed. "That's enough!" she screeched, looking over her shoulder from the canvas where she had been sketching. She stood in the middle of the room, paper under foot to protect the clean gray carpet. "Go argue somewhere else!" he pigtails swung as she turned her head back to her art.

"Annoying girl," Mello muttered to Near and I.

I smiled and looked up to the door. Watari had left, probably when he had seen me socializing. I shrugged mentally and looked at the two boys. The blonde feminine one, Mello, was staring at the smaller, calmer one, Near.

I took a mental note of this. It must have been normal behavior, since they both seemed so... comfortable being angry at each other. Rather, Mello seemed comfortable being angry, and Near seemed comfortable ignoring him or defending himself quietly.

"So," I said, hoping to begin a conversation with either of the two. The first to talk will be my new friend, I decided.

Unfortunately, neither spoke. I frowned, but said nothing else. Near had finished the puzzle for the third time and Mello on the ground with us, his back leaned against the wall, staring at his feet. The only sound in the room was from the television, the occasional bite of chocolate, and the consistent sound of the puzzle pieces. Being as bored as I was, I began tracing patterns into the fluffy carpet with my finger, humming absentmindedly. I sighed a few times, and by the third drawn out breath, Mello snapped.

"What?" he cried impatiently, snapping his head up to look at me.

"Mello! Be quiet!" the girl screamed before I could even open my mouth to answer my newest friend.

"Shut up, Linda! No one was talking to you. I was speaking to Matt," Mello retorted.

She picked up her canvas and marched out of the room, slamming the huge doors behind her. I could hear her muttering as she made her way down the hall.

"Touchy," I commented when she was out of the room.

"All girls are." Mello seemed deep in thought as he said that. He was chewing on another piece of bitter dark chocolate, his eyes crazy again.

Near looked up at him with a questioning look on his face mixed with a little annoyance and knowing. Mello looked at him and nodded, causing Near to sigh.

I was confused at the situation and at the way they seemed to be telepathic. I also couldn't help but be jealous that the two knew each other so well that they seemed to read each other's thoughts. Mello's excited look and Near's annoyed one made me wonder: what are they thinking?